Gyokeres Set to Spearhead Arsenal's Assault on Brentford in Crucial Clash
A "fierce and passionate" London clash at Stamford Bridge drained this Arsenal squad, wrapping up a demanding week that proved fruitful for the Premier League frontrunners.
Moisés Caicedo's dismissal offered the Gunners an excellent chance to secure all three points on Sunday evening, but they managed only a draw after Mikel Merino equalized Trevoh Chalobah's early second-half strike.
Arsenal's squad depth, despite numerous injury concerns, has enabled them to flourish early in the campaign, and the Gunners continue to cope with several key absences. A Brentford team that has suffered defeat in five of their six Premier League away fixtures awaits the Gunners next, with Arteta expected to rotate his squad for the Bees' arrival, considering an upcoming journey to Aston Villa looms.
Here's how Arsenal might set up at the Emirates on Wednesday evening.
Arsenal Predicted Lineup vs. Brentford (4-3-3)
GK: David Raya—Raya confronts his previous club on Wednesday evening, having been unable to secure a clean sheet in his last four appearances.
RB: Ben White—Jurriën Timber has had a sustained spell in the lineup and it wouldn't harm the Dutch defender if he started from the bench here. White remains a reliable choice who should contribute more in attacking phases.
CB: William Saliba—Saliba suggested that the French defender could return to action on Wednesday, having been sidelined due to an unusual injury on Sunday.
CB: Piero Hincapié—Arteta should select Hincapié, who managed to stand firm against Chelsea, over Cristhian Mosquera to maintain a right-foot/left-foot balance in possession.
LB: Riccardo Calafiori—Calafiori's performance at the Bridge was hindered by an early caution. He's now one booking away from a single-match ban.
CM: Christian Nørgaard—Martín Zubimendi could use some rest and we haven't witnessed much of Nørgaard since his arrival from Brentford.
CM: Declan Rice—Despite Arsenal's excellence, Rice is someone they cannot operate at peak level without. His consecutive starts will therefore persist.
CM: Martin Ødegaard—Arteta might reintroduce Arsenal's skipper into his starting eleven despite his underwhelming substitute appearance at the Bridge. This will be a match suited to Ødegaard's technical ability.
RW: Bukayo Saka—It was quite a battle with Marc Cucurella on Sunday, with Saka eventually prevailing as he assisted Merino's leveler while going head-to-head with the energetic Spaniard. Ødegaard's return means he'll surrender the captain's armband.
ST: Viktor Gyökeres—Merino had another productive stint as Arsenal's striker, but Arsenal didn't acquire Gyökeres to sit on the sidelines.
LW: Noni Madueke—Leandro Trossard might soon rejoin the squad, but it wouldn't be shocking if Arteta deployed Madueke on the opposite flank to Saka.
